My wife Rhonda and I recently returned from a trip to California where a current drought has everyone concerned and thinking about how they use their water. Water is one of our most crucial resources and when things become dry and parched it causes people to think about not only how valuable it is but how they are using it in their own lives. The same can be said about our spiritual lives as well. It is often in those times of spiritual dryness that we discover things that might need our attention or appreciation.
In 1986 two brothers who lived in kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee made an incredible discovery. As these two Israeli fishermen monitored their equipment on the beaches of Genesaret, they noticed something they had not seen before. Something covered in mud glistened in the sun. Upon examination, archaeologists determined that what the brothers had discovered was a fishing boat dating from the time of Jesus (AD 30-33). The only reason the artifact was discovered was because of a 3-year drought, resulting in unusually low water in the lake.
The Bible tells us that in times of spiritual dryness, God may uncover something of fabulous value within his presence. In 2 Corinthians 4 Paul is speaking of the many struggles that come along in life. He says that in life we are often pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But then he reminds us that those times of difficulty are refining us and shaping us into the person that God wants us to be. Physical and spiritual dryness can lead to times of a renewed life.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”